On Monday, July 17, the Overtures Committee of the 41st General Assembly considered 15 of 17 overtures that were referred to it. After almost six hours of deliberations, the committee answered three overtures in the affirmative (with amendments to two), nine in the negative, and referred three to other committees or back to the originating presbyteries.
Answered in the affirmative:
- Amend BCO 34-8 and 37-6 to Require a Two-thirds Majority Vote to Remove Censure of Deposition If Imposed for Scandalous Conduct (approve as amended; drop “for scandalous conduct” and bump two-thirds to three-fourths)
- Amend BCO 20-6 Regarding Terms of Call and add BCO Appendix J, Sample Form (approve as amended; only add Appendix J Sample Terms of Call Form and not make any changes to BCO text itself)
- Amend BCO 43-10 to Require the Higher Court to Accept a Reference if the Higher Court Has Sustained a Complaint Against a Non-indictment in a Doctrinal Case or Case of Public Scandal
Answered in the negative:
- Amend BCO 32 by Adding Section 32-21 Defining Supporting Reasons for a Complaint or Appeal
- Amend BCO 42 by Adding 42-13 to Define Terms Used in Chapter 42
- Amend BCO 43 by Adding 43-11 to Define Certain Terms Used in Chapter 43
- Establish Study Committee on Sabbath Issue in Westminster Standards
- Amend Westminster Confession of Faith 21-5
- Amend BCO 37-4
- Amend BCO 34-1 and 33-1 to Clarify the Prerequisite, and Provide a More Reasonable Threshold, for the Assumption of Original Jurisdiction
- Amend BCO 12-6 by Addition
- Amend five BCO paragraphs regarding Indefinite Suspension from Office (30-1, 30-3, 36-5, new 36-6, 37-3)
Referred:
- Amend BCO 5-1, 5-2, 5-9; and Add New Sections 5-11, 5-12 Regarding Mission Churches (referred to MNA Committee)
- Amend BCO 8-6 regarding Commissioning an Evangelist (referred to MNA Committee)
- Amend BCO 21-5, Question 2, Regarding Change of Views (referred to James River Presbytery “without prejudice”)
These votes will be considered by the full Assembly later this week.
